LSAT II Flashcards
WHAT IS ABSOLUTE LANGUAGE
must, always, required, some , though the range of some
MUST BE TRUE QUESTIONS ARE ..
100% TRUE
can always be proven by referring to the facts stated in the stimulus
What is Absolute and relative in the LSAT
Absolute terms describe a set of quantity
example: rich and happy are (absolute ) single quantity
-relative terms make a comparison
richer and healthier are (comparative ) (usually ends with -er_
*its is important to noticee absolute and relative terms
relative terms / comparison
more, less , taller ,tallest
neither
ni
to identify premises ask yourself :
why should i believe this argument
to identify conclusions ask yourself
what does the author want me to believe
what are the two aspects of language
Two aspects of language
Absolute : be aware of what terms matter and what do they mean ?
If you see Must conveys certainty
If you see Could conveys possibly
Relative : be aware of how the language changes throughout the stimulus
Between the stimulus and the answer choices
*see the shifts in language present - future
*example an argument ent of what might be and then what must be
You don’t have to be consistent on the time of language
what is possible
Possible
Greater than 0
There is a chance
1-100%
Is not impossible
what is quantity
3.Quantity
100% must
Greater than 50% most
Greater than 0% some
0% none
*comes constantly STUDY
when someone says
An event is certain to occur.
That means that the event’s probability is 100 % to occur
*certaintly arguments are harder to prove
when someone says
The event would probably occur.
More likely to occur than none . Greater than 50% 51-100%
100% is certain which means it is probably
what is liklihood
likelihood = probably=degree of certaintly
certaintly: 100% (must needs, always)
probability : more than 50% (probably, likely, mostly)
possibility: >0%
1-100% (can, could, may,might, possibly, sometimes)
what is certaintly ( or necessesity)
PART OF LIKELYHOOD
must, needs to, always
100% must
what is probability
part of liklihood
mostly, likely
more than 50%
what is possibility
PART OF LIKELYHOOD
can/ could, may, might, possibibly , sometimes
greater than 0%
must be true and most strongly supported questions
operate the same
in must be true questions the answers that are wrong are answers that ….
you can’t prove things that are probably , exagerrated , new information
CONCLUSION INDICATOR WORDS
THUS
THREFORE
HENCE
CONSEQUENTLY
AS A RESULT
SO
ACCORDINGLY
IT FOLLOWS THAT
IN MUST BE THAT
PREMISE INDICATORS
(FACTUAL STATEMENTS, CONTAINS FACTS, OR CLAIMS )
BECAUSE
SINCE
FOR
FOR THE REASON THAT
IN THAT
GIVEN THAT
AS INDICATED BY
DUE TO
FURTHERMORE
absolute
what are the key terms here and what do they mean logically
ex. must= certainty
relative
how do these key terms change throughout the stilulus
how do these key terms change between the stimulus and answer choices
ex. lets say you have an argument that has. a number of facts about what happened in the past and then they jump into a conclusion about the future .
the shift makes it that you can’t prove that conclusion about the future you don’t have enough info
in must be true questions are presented with what in the stimulus
fact sets
furthermore
premise indicator
moreover
premise indicator
besides
in addition
premise indicator
whatsmore
premise indicator
after all
premise indicator
what is counter premise
a premise that actually contains an idea that is counter to the argument
*something that is against the main argument
counter premise indicator
but, yet , however, on the other hand , admittedly , in contrast, although , even though, still whereareas , in spite of, despite, after all
The city council ought to ease restrictions on outdoor advertising
because the city’s economy is currently in a slump. Furthermore,
the city should not place restrictions on forms of speech such as
advertising.”
Conclusion :
The city council ought to ease restrictions on outdoor advertising
Premise (because)
the city’s economy is currently in a slump
in addition
premise indicator
hence
coclusion indicator
to identify premise
pick a sentence and say why I should believe that sentence
to identitfy conclusion
ask what is the author trying to persude me to believe
THUS
conclusion indicator
THREFORE
conclusion
HENCE
conclusion
CONSEQUENTLY
conclusion
AS A RESULT
conclusion
SO
conclusion
ACCORDINGLY
conclusion
IT FOLLOWS THAT
conclusion
IN MUST BE THAT
conclusion
on the grounds that
premise
when you see premise and conclusion indicator words along with a comma be careful
the presence of the comma creates a clause that, due to the premise indicator, contains a premise.The end of that premise clause will be closed with a second comma, and thenwhat follows will be the conclusion, as in the following:
Therefore, since higher debt has forced consumers to lower their
savings, banks now have less money to loan.”
“Higher debt has forced consumers to lower their savings” is the premise;
“banks now have less money to loan” is the conclusion. So, in this instance
“therefore” still introduces a conclusion, but the appearance of the conclusion
is interrupted by a clause that contains a premise
seeing that
premise
in as much
premise
clearly
conclusion
it follows that
conclusion
thus
conclusion
we may infer that
conclusion
implies that
conclusion
that is why
conclusion
entails that
conclusion
when you see phrases like “some people” “some scientist say”
introduce ideas which the
author represents and then argues against.
point at issue question
require you to identify a point of contention (dispute)
between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost exclusively with two-speaker stimuli.
Question stem example:
“Larson and Manuela disagree about whether
assumption question
These questions ask you to identify an assumption of the author’s argument.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following is an assumption
required by the argument above
justify the conclusion question
ask you to supply a piece of
information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the
conclusion above to be properly drawn?”
stregthen/support questions
These questions ask you to select the answer choice that provides
support for the author’s argument or strengthens it in some way.
Question stem examples:
“Which one of the following, if true, most
strengthens the argument?”
“Which one of the following, if true, most strongly
supports the statement above?
*belong to help family
resolve the paradox
Every Resolve the Paradox stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming
contradiction. You must find the answer choice that best resolves the
situation.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if true, would most
effectively resolve the apparent paradox above?
weaken questions
Weaken questions ask you to attack or undermine the author’s argument.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if true, most seriously
weakens the argument?”
Method of Reasoning
Method of Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms,
the way in which the author made his or her argument. Question stem
example:
“Which one of the following describes the
technique of reasoning used above?”
flaw in the reasoning
Flaw in the Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract
terms, the error of reasoning committed by the author. Question stem
example:
“The reasoning in the astronomer’s argument is
flawed because this argument”
parallel reasoning questions
Parallel Reasoning questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented
in the stimulus.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following arguments is most
similar in its pattern of reasoning to the argument
above
Evaluate the Argument
With Evaluate the Argument questions you must decide which answer
choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument.
Question stem example:
“The answer to which one of the following
questions would contribute most to an evaluation of
the argument?
cannot be true
Cannot Be True questions ask you to identify the answer choice that cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the stimulus.
Question stem example:
“If the statements above are true, which one of the
following CANNOT be true
must be true is part of the Prove family,cannot be true is part of disprove family, Resolve the paradox is part of the help family they usually dont have…..
conclusions, therefore the other question types must be connected to stimuli with conclusions
Must Be True, Cannot Be
True, or Resolve the Paradox are related in what way
they don’t have coclusions
paradox
contradiction
If the statements above are true, they provide the most
support for which one of the following?
must be true
Mary uses which one of the following argumentative
techniques in countering Paul’s argument?
method of reasoning
If the statements above are true, which one of the
following conclusions can be properly drawn on the
basis of them?
must be true
Which one of the following is an assumption on
which the argument depends?
assumption
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously
undermines the argument’s stated conclusion?
weaken question
The argument proceeds by
method of reasoning
The pattern of reasoning displayed in the argument
above is most closely paralleled by that in which one
of the following arguments?
parallel reasoning
Which one of the following can be logically inferred
from the passage?
must be true
Which one of the following, if true, would most
strengthen the argument?
stregthen question
. Which one of the following argumentative strategies
is used by the researcher in responding to the
manager?
method of reasoning
Which one of the following, if true, argues most
strongly against the explanation reported in the
passage?
weaken question
Which one of the following principles, if established,
would do most to support the customer’s position
against the advertiser’s response
stregthen question
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to
resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information
above
resolve the paradox
If the statements above are true, they provide the most
support for which one of the following?
must be true
Mary uses which one of the following argumentative
techniques in countering Paul’s argument
method of reasoning
*questions ask you to describe in abstract terms the way in which the author made his argument
Which one of the following contains an error of
reasoning that is also contained in the argument
above
**parallel reasoning **
*questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
The argument is structured to lead to the conclusion
that
main point
- main point questions ask you to find the primary the primary conclusion made by the author
Which one of the following is most similar in its logical features to the argument above
parallel reasoning
*this questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
Greg does which one of the following in responding
to Sara’s argument?
method of reasoning
*questions ask you to describe in abstract terms the way in which the author made his argument
Which one of the following conclusions is best
supported by the passage?
Must be True
*questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by the information in the stimulus
*must be true questions have the word properly inferred too
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously
calls the anthropologists’ explanation into question?
weaken question
The main point of the argument is tha
main point question
*main point questions ask you to find the primary the primary conclusion made by the author
The judge responds to the politician’s argument by
doing which one of the following
method of reasoning
*questions ask you to describe in abstract terms the way in which the author made his argument
The pattern of reasoning in the argument above is
most similar to that in which one of the following
*parallel reasoning**
*this questions ask you to identify the answer choice that contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented in the stimulus
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously
weakens the argument?
weakens
what is resolve the paradox
every resolve the paradox stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming contradiction . you must find the answer choice that best resolves the situation
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to
resolve the apparent paradox in the information
above
resolve the paradox
The author’s conclusion depends upon which one of
the following?
assumption
* this questions ask you to identify the assumption of the authors argument
“except”
means other than
Which one of the following, if true, strengthens
the argument above?”
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
“Each of the following, if true, strengthens the
argument above EXCEPT:
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
Which one of the following, if true, would help to
resolve the apparent discrepancy above?”
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Resolves the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Do not Resolve the Paradox
Each of the following, if true, would help to resolve
the apparent discrepancy above EXCEPT:”
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
Which one of the following, if true, helps LEAST
to resolve the apparent discrepancy described
above?”
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Does not Resolve the Paradox
Four incorrect answers: Resolve the Paradox
Which one of the following, if true, would most
strengthen the argument above?
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Do not Strengthen
Which one of the following, if true, LEAST
strengthens the argument above?”
expect what in the answer choices
One correct answer: Does not Strengthen
Four incorrect answers: Strengthen
helpful in establishing the
conclusion”
the same as Strengthen
